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The Importance of Understanding the Futility of War on this Remembrance Day!

11 Nov 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a glorious future we cannot comprehend, a poignant war poem, a time of peace, a time of war, a touching but controversial poem, a warmongering effort, absolutely nothing, all these things must come to pass, an enduring symbol of remembrance, be not troubled, be yours to hold it high, between the crosses, blatantly seeking power, break the faith with us who die, clothed in a robe dipped in blood, continually fight for freedom, endure to the end with Christ, eyes as a flame of fire, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, faithful and true, famines and pestilences and earthquakes, felt dawn, fighting for democracy, fighting for freedom, freedom is never free, futile promises, halfway home, hands on the plough, hear of wars and rumurs of wars, holy spirit, honouring militayr personnel killed in conflict, In Flanders Fields, in his mouth a sharp sword, in righteousness judging and making war, in the sky, Jesus Christ, John McCrae, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, letting down those who died in the war, loved and were loved, lust for dictatorial power, many crowns on his head, many shall come in my name, mark our place, mercy, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nation will rise against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore, not looking back, now we lie in Flanders fields, our wonderful position in Christ Jesus, peacekeeping missions, politicians, powerbrokers, progress, Remembrance Day, respect your democratic freedom, row on row, rule them with a rod of iron, sacrifice of soldiers in World War 1, salvation, saw sunset glow, say one thing then do another, scarce heard amid the guns below, short days ago, strife is being felt worldwide, strife is prominent all over our world, take heed that no man deceive you, take up our quarrel with the foe, thank God, the armies of heaven, the beginning of sorrow, the breath of life is still flowing through me, the end is not yet, the fall out from strife, the far left, the far right, the larks still bravely singing fly, the poppies blow, the red poppies growing over the soldiers graves, the Word of god, their deaths would be in vain, though poppies grow in Flanders fields, to a glorious future with Jesus, to smite the nations, to you from fallings hands, transformed a natural image, truth, unprincipled leaders, war, war what is it good for, warmongering tendencies, we are the dead, we lived, we shall not sleep, we throw the torch, Wednesday Wail, wisdom

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 November 2026 Isaiah 2:4b.

Isaiah 2:4b. nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

And it’s a mostly cloudy Wednesday, this Remembrance Day 0f 2026., originally established as Armistice Day in 1919 to remember World War I soldiers. The date marks the official end of the First World War hostilities, which ceased at the “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” in 1918 (when the armistice between Germany and the Allied forces took effect). However, its meaning expanded after World War II to honor all military personnel who have died in conflicts, wars, and peacekeeping missions worldwide. What a waste of young lives it all was, but the claim is that we were fighting for freedom, for democracy.

Hn! What a joke that’s turned out to be now, when all the political leaders are fighting for dictatorial power, doing their best to consolidate power in their own hands, so they can do whatever they desire. And it’s sad that many people around the world are allowing them to do just that, not realizing or understanding that freedom is never free; it’s something you continually have to fight for, and you can never trust those in power to fight for, or even respect your democratic freedom, because it means lessening their own power.

Some leaders are seeking total power by blatant means, while others are being more underhanded, like enacting big laws, with small ones hidden in them, laws that curtail your freedom and rights, while giving those at the top more leverage to build their hidden agendas. So what freedom did all those soldiers die for eh, when things are rolling right back to either the far right or far left, leaving the populace at the mercy of their greedy and unprincipled leaders. The sad part is that too many of us don’t listen and/or pay attention to what the politicians and other powerbrokers are doing, for they say one thing, then turn around and do something else.

It’s all promises; vain and futile promises, as Cousin Sol would describe them. But as one of my friends would no doubt tell me, ‘that’s progress!’ Well if that’s progress, then you can keep it yes, I certainly don’t want any part of it! And that concludes my rant for today! (smile)

Now let’s turn to poem we recite every Remembrance Day, titled In Flanders Fields.’ It was written in 1915 by Canadian physician and soldier John McCrae. And according to one commentary, “In Flanders Fields” is a poignant war poem that reflects on the sacrifice of soldiers in World War I and the red poppies growing over their graves.’ And it’s become so popular because ‘it deeply captured the collective grief of World War I and transformed a natural image into an enduring symbol of remembrance.’

So, please read the poem with me. ‘In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, LOVED and were LOVED, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.’

Ah friends, it is a touching poem, but it also carries some controversy. The last word of the first sentence was apparently written ‘grow’ but it was changed to ‘blow’ later on to describe the poppies blowing in the wind, giving a more dramatic effect. And the last verse is also claimed as being a warmongering effort, inciting us to keep on fighting, and if we don’t, we’ll be letting down those who died in the war, causing their deaths to be in vain. But despite the controversy, the poem remains popular all over the world and is still recited each Remembrance Day.

And as per the main culprit in it all, ‘WAR?’ Hn! What can we say? Mankind has always had warmongering tendencies, but we don’t think there’s been as many wars going on at the same time in our world as right now. For there are wars all over the universe; both international – between different countries, as well as civil, that’s within individual nations. Strife is so prominent that you have to be very careful where you’re going these days, even for a short vacation. And there are all sorts of references to war in the Bible, even some that God sanctioned to help Israel conquer the promised land. And Cousin Sol in his wisdom even spoke of ‘ a time of war, and a time of peace.’ (Eccl. 3:8b)

Meanwhile Jesus warned us thus: ‘Take heed that no man deceive you. for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers (various) places. And all these are the beginning of sorrow.’ (Matt. 24: 4-8)

Oh my people, this certainly is a time when there’s strife in many different places, and is it ever sorrowful! For so many are unnecessarily suffering from this strife. They don’t have anything to do with it, yet the fall out from the strife is being felt worldwide. And if this is just the beginning of sorrows, per Jesus, then what will it look like as it gets closer to the end eh? I hope I won’t be around to find out.

And Revelation 19:11-16, does speak about Jesus preparing for war, ‘called Faithful and True, sitting on a white horse, eyes as a flame of fire, with many crowns on his head and in righteousness, judging and making war. Clothed in a robe dipped in blood, called the Word of God. And the armies of heaven follow him on white horses, clothed in fine white, clean linen. In his mouth is a sharp sword, to be used to smite nations, then rule them with a rod of iron, while treading the winepress with fierceness and the wrath of Almighty God. And on his robe and thigh was written KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’

But the best scripture on war comes from Isaiah. ‘And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks (pruning knives): nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.’ (Is. 2:4b) Oh my brethren, that’s the day we all long for, and it will happen, but only in the Lord’s time. So until then, let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the world know of our wonderful position in Jesus Christ.

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’

And for those who endure to the very end with Jesus, they will experience a future so glorious, that their minds cannot comprehend it. So please, let’s endure to the end with Jesus, so that we can enjoy that incomprehensible glorious future together! Much LOVE!

…war…what is it good for…absolutely nothing…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

The Necessity for Remembrance Day; to Remind Us that God Desires us to Live in Peace!

11 Nov 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a trajectory of peace, acceptable to God, ane times, approved of men, Armistice Day, as much as it depends on your, as much as lieth in you, behold the upright, between the crosses, Blessed are the peacemakers, called the children of God, Christians, come to know and love christ like we do, commemorate the end of the first world war, depart from evil and do good, duty bound, faith, felt dawn, follow after things which make for peace, forget no my law, Happy Remembrance Day, holy spirit, how beautiful upon the mountains, hurry, I will give peace in the land, if it be possible, In Flanders Fields, in god's eyes, in the name of peace, in the sky, inhu, Jesus Christ, John McCrae, joy in the Holy Ghost, keep him in perfect peace, keep the fires of freedom burning, length of days, let not your heart be troubled, let thine heart keep my commandments, live peaceably with all men, lock stock and barrel, long life and peace, LOVE, loved and were loved, mankind's warmongering ways, mark our place, mark the perfect man, mercy, my peace I give unto you, neither let it be afraid, none shall make you afraid, not as the world giveth give I unto you, now we lie, Peace i leave with you, people of peace and unity, proclaims peace, proclaims salvation, reflect of the cost of war, righteousness, row on row, salvation, saw sunset glow, scarce heard amid the guns below, seek peace and pursue it, share His love with my neighbours, short days ago we lived, still bravely singing, the beloved of God, the dark ages, the end of that man is peace, the feet of him that bring good tidings, the larks, the poppies blow, the Prince of Peace, they shall add unto thee, things wherewith one may edify, to go out and share the love and friendship of Christ, to honour those who sacrificed their lives, to promote peace, to redeem people from sin, trust my friend Jesús, truth, Tuesday Mantra, we are the dead, whose mind is stayed on thee, winter came in like a lion, wisdom, worry

Romans 14:19. Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify (build up) another.

HAPPY REMEMBRANCE DAY!

And as is expected, after Monday comes Tuesday, and thankfully the snow has stopped falling, there’s more sunshine than cloud and it’s warm enough for the snow to begin melting. And all God’s people said a loud and grateful ‘Amen!’ Yes, winter came in like a lion over the weekend and most of us were not prepared for it, but I’m sure we will be prepared for the next snowfall. (smile) Anyway, today is also a special day in the annals of Western History, it’s the day we celebrate Remembrance Day. And what’s that about?

This commentary explains: ‘Remembrance Day is a day of remembrance in the Western Hemisphere, celebrated on November 11 to commemorate the end of World War I and to honor all those who have served and sacrificed in the armed forces. At 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, the armistice was signed. It is a day for us to pause in a moment of silence, wear a poppy, and remember those who have fought in times of war, conflict, and peace. The day is also a time to reflect on the cost of war and to promote peace.

It was originally called Armistice Day to mark the armistice agreement that ended World War I on November 11, 1918. However, in 1931, the Canadian Parliament officially designated the day as Remembrance Day, to be observed on November 11, and separated it from the Thanksgiving holiday.’ And so it is friends, that today we are able to live in relative peace and freedom, although many are trying to push us back into the dark ages, but we will not allow it to happen, even if it’s only on behalf of those who gave their lives and services to stop it a century ago.

And on this day, we also stand strong in the words of a special poem written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during World War I. The poem’s titled ‘In Flanders Fields.’ So please read it with me: ‘In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, LOVED and were LOVED, and now we lie, In Flanders fields.’

How can we ever go back to those barbaric and inhumane times, especially when so many of our young people sacrificed their lives for us to be free? No! It would be a huge blemish on our honour and character, especially after we also fought World War II to keep the fires of freedom and humanity brightly burning. But as always, mankind is never satisfied with the status quo, and there are always some who want to rule the roost so badly that they will stop at nothing, stoop to any means to do it.

That’s why, right now there are numerous areas of serious strife in our world, as if within the last hundred years we’ve not fought two major wars, and several smaller ones, killing millions of innocent people, all in the supposed name of peace and freedom. But mankind’s warmongering ways and blatant inhumanity to his fellow man continues undiminished. It’s obvious that mankind does not hold these words of Bruh David from Psalm 34 sacred. ‘Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it.’ (Ps. 34:14) But that’s what we followers of Christ ought to be doing, because one of the many awesome names of our Leader is the Prince of Peace!

And I like how this commentary from the website bibletolife.com/resources explains it. ‘God wants peace for His people and His creation. It’s at the core of why Christ came to the world—to redeem people from their sin and set creation on a trajectory of peace. As a result, Christians are called to be people of peace and unity, so that many may come to know the peace and LOVE we find in Jesus. What does the Bible say about peace?’ And there are ever so many scriptures pleading with us to do just that. Let’s take a look at a few of them nuh, to sort of awaken our peace motivation and kill our warlike desires.

It begins as early as Leviticus, where the Lord promises the Israelites: ‘And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid (eliminate) evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.’ (Lev. 6:26) Now tell me how many lands are there like that to day? Not many! And only a few psalms later, Psalm 37, Bruh David again advises us: ‘Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. (Ps. 37:37) Meanwhile, Cousin Sol reminds us: ‘My son, forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.’ (Prov. 3:1-2)

And what sweeter words of peace can we get than these from the prophet Isaiah: ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on (sustained by) thee.’ (Is. 26:3) Now listen to this other gem on peace from Isaiah. ‘How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings (good news), that publisheth (proclaims) peace; that bringeth good tidings (good news) of good (things), that publisheth (proclaims) salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth.’ (Is. 52:7)

Then there’s Jesus own proclamation in the Beatitudes: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.’ (Matt. 5:9) Followed by this exhortation from Bruh Paul in Romans: ‘If it be possible, as much as lieth in (depends on) you, live peaceably with all men.’ (Rom. 12:18) And since time and space have run out on us, we’ll end with this other inducement from Bruh Paul to the Romans. ‘Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat (food) and drink; but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify (build up) another.’ (Rom. 14:16-19)

Oh my people, we could not get any better advice than that on this Remembrance Day where we remember all those who fought on our behalf. So lets’ go home now declaring (chuh man!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’

And having made that declaration (yesss!!!) we are now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…Peace I leave with you…my peace I give unto you…not as the world giveth give I unto you…let not your heart be troubled…neither let it be afraid… (John 14:27)

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

The Importance of Remembrance Day!

11 Nov 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: 11 a.m on the 11th day of the 11th month, a crying shame, a show of support, a stranger, age shall not weary them, armistice, be yours to hold it high, between the crosses, Bible, bounden duty, christianity, cleansing, defend the poor and fatherless, destroying the works of the devil, died in the line of duty, divine aid, do justice to the afflicted, done it unto the least of these, enjoy a decent life, expended on our behalf, faith, felt dawn, filling the void, financial aid, fly, for the Armed Forces community, from falling hand, god, has mercy on the poor, he that honours him, he that oppresses the poor, healing, hear and answer our prayers, hifalutin speeches, holy spirit, humble servants, I was hungry, I was in prison, I was thirsty, if ye break faith with us who die, In Flanders Fields, in the sky, Jehovah Rapha, Jesus Christ, John McCrae, keep himself separated from the world, like sheep before the slaughter, living hand to mouth, LOVE, loved and were loved, make a good living, mark our place, medical aid, mental aid, mercy, naked, nor years condemn them, open thine hand widely, paraded out, platitudes, preaching, proper housing, pure religion, Remembrance Day, reproaches his Maker, row on row, salvation, saving the lost, saw sunset glow, scarce heard amid the guns below, short days ago, still bravely singing, suspension of fighting, take up our quarrel with the foe, the God who heals, the government don't care about the veterans, the larks, the poor shall never cease, the poppies blow, the poppy flower, the sacrifice, they shall not grow old, thirsty and ye gave me drink, though poppies grow in Flanders fields, to you, truth, turn from our evil ways, undefiled before God, veterans, we are the dead, we lived, we shall not sleep, we that are left grow old, we throw the torch, we will remember them, wisdom, ye clothed me, ye have done it unto me, ye took me in, you gave me meat

Proverbs 14:31. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor (needy).

As is expected, after Sunday comes Monday…and this Monday is a big one in the Western Hemisphere; the official celebration of Remembrance Day in honour of all those brave armed forces members who died in the line of duty during the numerous and unnecessary wars of the last century.

‘It all began with the end of the First World War when at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The Germans had called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement and accepted the allied terms of unconditional surrender.’

Today the handful of veterans left will be paraded out like sheep before the slaughter and many hifalutin speeches made at all the monuments erected for those who departed this life in service to their country. But the truth of the matter is that we remember those who fell in conflict, but the veterans who are still alive have been mostly forgotten and not shown the appreciation they fully deserve. Too many of them are living hand to mouth, not being able to secure proper housing, financial, medical or mental aid from the governments and the associations responsible for doing so.

It’s a crying shame when you hear the many stories of such irresponsibility and abuse. And we chose the red poppy flower as a symbol for this day, one of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future. Poppies are worn as a show of support for the Armed Forces community. And on this day we also glorify the fallen combatants, especially those lying in the graves of Flanders with this popular poem ‘In Flanders Fields,’ written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, (1872-1918) a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during the World War I and a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres, in Belgium, which served as inspiration for the poem.

So please read it with me: ‘In Flanders fields, the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, LOVED and were LOVED, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.’

Ah friends, it is a sad and touching poem, a true testimonial to the wastefulness of lives lost in wars that don’t really prove anything but the stupidity of mankind. One commentary claims that ‘The day before he wrote his famous poem, one of McCrae’s closest friends was killed in the fighting and buried in a makeshift grave with a simple wooden cross. Wild poppies were already beginning to bloom between the crosses marking the many graves. Unable to help his friend or any of the others who had died, John McCrae gave them a voice through his poem. It was the second last poem he was to write.’

And it’s certainly good to remember those who fell in service to us, but it’s even more important to remember those who are still alive and through no fault of their own cannot make a good living or enjoy a decent life. We owe them that for the sacrifice they expended on our behalf. It’s our bounden duty to look after them, but it’s one more duty that we’re shirking, while filling the void with mere platitudes on this day.

And there are many scriptures which admonish us to take care of the poor, sick, needy and downtrodden. For example, in Psalm 82 – Unjust Judges – the psalmist Asaph writes: ‘Defend (vindicate) the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.’ (Ps. 82:3-4)

Meanwhile, James says it thus: ‘Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.’ (James 1:27) True religion is not only doing good, but also staying separate from the world.

And way back when the Lord told the Israelites through Moses: ‘For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore, I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide (freely) unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.’ (Deut. 15:11) And Cousin Sol reminds us of our duty with this gem. ‘He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor (needy).’ (Prov. 14:31)

It’s also like Jesus said when speaking of the coming separation of the sheep and the goats. ‘For I was an hungred (hungry), and ye gave me meat (food): I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.’ (Matt. 25:35-36) And when the righteous ask when all of that happened? ‘And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’ (Matt. 25:40)

Remember my fellow saints that Jesus came to save and to help, as this Bible summary tells us: ‘His ministry included preaching, teaching, healing, seeking, and saving the lost, and destroying the works of the devil (see Matt. 4:23; 9:35; Luke 19:10; 1 John 3:8).’ Now we have to do likewise. And to help us do so, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn and ask for divine aid in these times of dire need.

Altogether: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. Heavenly Father, You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. Yes, we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face.

So, we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading for wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems. Oh Father, please ease the pain of the many suffering from negative situations, show them Your awesome grace and mercy. And faithfully keep Your promise to prosper us if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’

And it’s ever so necessary to repent and turn from our evil ways if we truly desire to receive divine aid. Much LOVE!

…the Remembrance Day exhortation…They shall grow not old…as we that are left grow old…Age shall not weary them…nor the years condemn…We will remember them…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 November 2018 Ecclesiastes 5:2.

11 Nov 2018 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: 100 Anniversary, a sovereign God, all loves excelling, Alpha and Omega, amid the guns below, an empty religious profession, be more ready to hear, be not rash with thy mouth, bravely singing, break faith with us, breathe thy loving spirit, by rote, Charles Wesley, compassion, crosses, democracy, faithful followers, faithful mercies crown, felt dawn, fly, freedom, from failing hands, give the sacrifice of fools, go to church, God is in heaven, gratitude, hold it high, humble dwelling, hypocrisy, In Flanders Field, in the sky, inherit, into every troubled breast, John McRae, joy of heaven, keep thy foot, Lest we forget, let not thine heart be hasty, let thy words be few, like robots, LOVE, love divine, loved, make vows, mark our place, not let it happen again, now we lie, poppies, promised rest, promises, Remembrance Day, row on row, saw sunset glow, scared heard, sincerity, song of praise, take up our quarrel, the folly of, the Great War, the house of God, the larks, thou upon the earth, thy salvation, to utter anything before God, unbounded love, unnecessary wars, Veterans Day, walk prudently, we are the dead, we lived, we shall not sleep, we throw the torch, with the foe, without having lived life

Ecclesiastes 5:2. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon the earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Wow Friends, these Sundays come around so quickly that sometimes you don’t even have time to think! (smile) We just get up and go to church by rote, like robots, without preparing properly for it. And though it’s good to go to the house of the Lord and worship with fellow believers, I believe we should pay careful attention to these words of Cousin Sol writing as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes:

‘Keep thy foot (walk prudently) when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon the earth: therefore let thy words be few.’ (Eccl.5:1-2)

Yeh friends, we have to be careful when we go to church, not to get too caught up in the moment and make vows and promises we can’t or won’t keep. The scholars offer this explanation on the verses. ‘5:1-7. The emphasis on the passage is on the folly of an empty religious profession before a sovereign God: God is in heaven, and thou upon the earth. God expects sincerity and meaningfulness in worship. He is not impressed with foolish vows.’

And sadly many of us don’t take worship seriously enough. But please, let’s not do that today. Instead, let’s lose the empty religiosity, and gather together with the sincerity and meaningfulness that our God expects of His faithful followers. And let’s begin by showing it in our song of praise, which today is possibly one of the master hymn writer Charles Wesley’s most popular: ‘LOVE Divine, All LOVES Excelling.’

As one harmonious and melodious choir, let’s put our hearts and souls into it. ‘LOVE divine, all LOVES excelling, joy of heav’n, to earth come down, fix in us thy humble dwelling; all Thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, thou art all compassion; pure, unbounded LOVE Thou art; visit us with Thy salvation; enter ev’ry trembling heart. Breathe, O breathe Thy LOVING Spirit into ev’ry troubled breast!

Let us all in Thee inherit; let us find the promised rest. Take away the LOVE of sinning; Alpha and Omega be; end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty. Come, Almighty, to deliver; let us all Thy life receive; suddenly return and never, nevermore Thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, serve Thee as Thy hosts above, pray and praise Thee without ceasing, glory in Thy perfect LOVE.

Finish then Thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be. Let us see Thy great salvation perfectly restored in Thee. Changed from glory into glory, till in heav’n we take our place, till we cast our crowns before Thee, lost in wonder, LOVE, and praise.’

What a marvellous hymn my brethren! And we sang it with much fervour and sincerity too! I’m sure heaven was deeply touched! (smile) Now here is a brief explanation of the hymn from Wikipedia: ‘Like many hymns, LOVE DIVINE, is loosely Trinitarian in organization: Christ is invoked in the first stanza as the expression of Divine LOVE; the Holy Spirit in the second stanza as the agent of sanctification; the Father in the third stanza as the source of life; and the Trinity (presumably) in the final stanza as the joint Creator of the New Creation.

Like many hymns, too, this one is a tissue of Biblical quotations, including “Alpha and Omega” (st.2) as an epithet of Christ, from Revelation 21:6; the casting of crowns before God’s throne (st.4), from Revelation 4:10; the promise that Christians shall be “changed from glory into glory” (st.2 and 4), from 2 Corinthians 3:18; as well as other, more general allusions.’

Whew! That’s what you call a brief, in depth, general explanation! (smile) But it all makes sense. Ah friends, today is also the day we celebrate as ‘Remembrance Day,’ in the British system, and ‘Veteran’s Day’ in the U.S. The day we remember all those who died fighting for our freedom and democracy. And believe me many many gave their lives on our behalf. So today we honour them with marches and speeches and memorials and services at their gravesites, etc.

And this year it’s the 100 Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty that ended the first Great War. But we never learned from it, and unfortunately the celebrations are somewhat tainted, because those who survived all our wars, and the relatives of those who died, are finding it very difficult to get the monetary benefits, housing and medical attention that they deserve. Our governments talk a good talk on days like these, but when it’s time to get down into the trenches, it’s all hypocrisy.

Just this past week the Canadian Government finally allocated a hundred and something million dollars that should have been paid to the veterans some time ago. And even with that allocation, who knows how long that will take to filter down to those in need. It’s the same poor attitude in the U.S. However, although we don’t treat the vets and their families as well as we should, at least we remember them in our prayers and ceremonies.

And we’ll close with that ever-popular poem ‘In Flanders Field,’ written in their honour by Lieutenant Colonel John McRae: ‘In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, LOVED and were LOVED, and now we lie In Flanders Fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.’

Ah friends, so many young men died in those unnecessary wars without having even lived life…But we thank them for their sacrifice and today we remember them, with LOVE and gratitude. Much LOVE!

…besides saying…lest we forget…what about saying…we won’t let it happen again eh…

SCRIP-BITS

The Importance of Understanding the Futility of War on this Remembrance Day!

The Importance of Remembrance Day!

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 November 2018 Ecclesiastes 5:2.

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